Zipper



w. scHMlELE 3,167,834

ZIPPER Filed Jan. 22, 1963 Feb. 2, 1965 1| il il il il il El ll United States Patent O 3,167,834 ZIPPER Wolfgang Schmiele, Hildesheim, Germany, assignor to Wetzeii Gummiwerke AG, Hildesheim, @Germany Filed ian. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 253,143 Claims priority, application Germany, Jan. 25, 1962, W 31,545 4 Claims. (Cl. 2li-2051) This invention relates to an end joint for a zipper having coupling links which are secured in a fold of carrier webs which serve as a tight joint at both sides of the range of the coupling links and are pressed against each other by the coupling links under pre-tension, a slide serving for connecting and disconnecting .the coupling links and engaging with an -opening wedge :between the two rows of the coupling links and being stopped in its end position by an elastic sealing piece.

The ends of both rows of coupling links of the known zippers of this type. have to be vulcanized into so-called end joints. 'This process is not only extremely expensive from the standpoint of production engineering but also does not always provide a satisfactory hermetic joint, for every end piece has to be insulated and heated individually in the rubber mixture by being completely sealed. Metal clips may also be used as a joint.

It is the object of the invention to improve the production of end-jointed zippers of the kind described above and to provide at a low price an end joint which is able `to withstand considerable pressures and is especially suited for high-altitude flying suits.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the elastic sealing piece is mounted at the inside of a carrier web of a zipper being formed in a known manner by bending a continuous link chain through 180. There is no vulcanizing of any end joints; the sealing side does no longer show any cut-up pieces. The carrier web can now easily be folded at the closing end and the sealing link simply be attached as a prole strap to the carrier web with the zipper in closed position. Thin, flexible textiles or similar materials may serve as a carrier web which are rubber or plastic-coated and less solid than those used so far.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is an outside view of the closing end of a zipper, the slide being a short distance from a closing end position;

FIG. 2 is a similar View with the slide in the closing position;

FIG. 3 is a bottom View showing the inner side of the zipper;

FIG. 4 is a section, on a larger scale, taken along the line IV-lVof FlG. l, and

FIG. 5 is a :side view of the slide seen from the open closing side with a recess for the sealing piece.

A zipper according to t-he invention is provided with a flexible carrier web 12 of rubber or plastic-covered textile material -which is turned down twice behind the closing end 11 and forms a triangular 4fold 14, so that the result will be two parallel par-ts of the carrier web 12 and a folding strap 1t). The inside 1S of the carrier web is pulled up and shows in a known manner a row 16 of coupling links 17 which are secured in folds of the carrier web 12 by outside clamps 18. The coupling links 17 are provided with heads 19 which in case of the Zipper being closed are coupled with the heads of the opposite row of coupling links.

The slide 20 consists of an opening wedge 21 for separating the coupling links 17 and of guide ilanges 22 which in cooperation with the opening wedge 21 have the ICC function of bringing the coupling links 17 into mutual engagement when the slide 20 is moved in the direction of .the closing end 11 of the zipper. When the slide is positioned at the closing end 11 there is lef-t a nonlockable opening 23 between both rows of the coupling links owing to the opening wedge 21. The remaining part of the closure is kept in abutting relationship by both sides of .the carrier web 12.

A soft rubber sealing piece 24 is fastened on the folding strap 11i for instance by welding, vulcanizing or glueing, its surface being formed according to the cross section of .the two rows of coupling links in closed state. As shown in FlG. 5, the opening Wedge 21 has a bottom 25 with .a continuous recess 26 therein lwhich allows the upper part of the sealing piece 24 to pass through. When the two rows of the coupling links are closed, the two sides of the carrier web 12 are pressed against each other and against the top .side of the sealing piece 24. This prevents an enclosed medium from passing through the opening 23, The folding strap 1@ of the triangular fold 14 supports the sealing piece 24. Moreover, the trans- Versally directed tension exerted on the closure in consequence of internal pressure-ie. the tension of the carrier web-tends to pull the carrier web 12 on to the sealing p-iece and thus to improve the efciency of the seal. Similarly, a pressure acting from the outside of the Zipper may press the carrier web 12 sealingly against the sealing piece 24.

The rows of coupling links connected with each other form -a closing seam which extends rib-like above the plane in which the edges to be joined together are located. Below the plane of the carrier Web there is only the folding strap 1@ serving as support for the sealing piece which hermetically locks the opening between the two abutting parts of the carrier web, so that the end joint stands out to a smaller degree. This joint is, for` instance, important to pressurized high-altitude flying suits. For a simple fastening of such closures a tape may be glued to .the underside of the triangular fold 14 so as to extend beyond the same. This may be done during the same process as the glueing of the sealing piece.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be consider-ed in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. f

I claim:

l. A fluid-tight Zipper comprising, in combination, an elongated iiexible carrier web; a plurality of coupling links fastened spaced from each other along one edge of said web, said web being folded substantially midway between the free ends thereof along a pair of fold lines extending inclined at substantially 45 to the other edge of said web toward each other to form with said coupling links a pair of substantially parallel link chains joined at one end of said zipper by a substantially triangular portion of said web; a slide having a wedge portion located between said link chains and `a pair of guide flanges respectively engaging the coupling links on said chains for coupling the latter during 4movement of said slide toward said one end of said zipper and for uneoupling the same during the movement of said slide in opposite direction; and an elastic sealing member fastened to said triangular portion of said web and engaging a bottom face of said wedge portion when said slide is moved to said one end of said zipper.

2. A fluid-tight zipper comprising, in combination, an elongated flexible carrier web; a plurality of coupling ksaid web, said web being folded substantially midway between the free ends thereof along a pair of fold'lines` extending inclined at substantiallyt45 to the otheredge of saidweb toward each other to form with said coupling linksta pair of substantially parallel link chains joined at Vone end of said zipper by a substantially triangular portion of said web; a slide having a wedge portion located 'betweenisaid link chains and a pair of guide flanges vrespectively'engaging the coupling links on said chains for coupling the latter during movement of said slide toward said one end of said Zipper and for uncoupling the same duringthe movement of said slide in opposite direction said wedge portion of said slide being formed atta bottom face thereof with an elongatedgroove, extending in longitudinal direction at said slide; and an Velastic sealing mem-l Iller fastened to said triangularpcrtion of saidrweb and engaging a bottom face of said Wedge portion -when said slide is moved to said one end of said Zipper, said elastic sealing member being formed at a central upper portion thereof with a ridge-likeprojection substantially matching the cross section of said groove and being located in the latter when said slide is at the one end of said zipper.A

3. A duid-tight Zipper comprising, in combination, an

from each other along one edge of said web, said web being folded `substantially midway between the free ends. thereof alongsa pair of fold lines, extending inclined at substantially 45 to the other edge of said web toward each other to form with said coupling links a pair of substantially parallel link chains joined at one end of said zipper bya .substantially triangular portion of said web; a slide having a wedge portion located between said link chainsy and a pair of guide flanges respectively engaging the coupling links on said chains for coupling the latter during movement of saidfslide toward said one end vof said zipper and for uncoupling the' same during the movement of said slide in opposite direction said Wedge portion of said `slide being formedat `a bottomvface thereof with an elongated grooveV extending in `longitudinal direction of said slide; and anelastic sealing member of soft rub-ber vulcanized lto the rubber-covered material of said triangular portion of said web and engaging a bottom i face ofsaid wedge portion when said slide is moved to said one end of said zipper, said elastic Sealing member being formed'at a central upper portion `thereof with a ridge-like projection substantially matchingvthe cross section of said groove and being located in the latter when said slide is at the one end of said zipper.

4. A fluid-tight zipper comprising', in combination, an elongated flexible carrier web; a plurality of coupling links fastened :spaced from. each other along one vedge of said web having substantially midway between the free end thereof a central fold and'said web being foldedalong two fold linesextending fromv the region of sa-idcentral fold respectively inclined at 45 to thel other edge to form with 'gsaid coupling links a pair of substantially parallel link chainsjoined to eachother at said central fold to form a closing end of said Zipper and by a substantially triangular portion of said web lbeneath saidvclosing end; a slide having a wedgeportion located between said link chains and a pair'of guidev flanges respectively engaging the coupling links on said chains forcoupling the latter during movement ofthe slide toward said closingend of said zipper and for uncoupling the same during the movement of said slide in opposite direction, the coupling links at said closing end engaging said wedge portion of said slide whenthe latter is moved to said closing 'end to thus form `a stop for ,said slide; and an elastic sealing member fastened to said triangular portion of said web and engaging a bottom face of said-,wedge portion when said slide lis at said closing end ofl said zipper.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES Parentsv DONLEY I. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FLUID-TIGHT ZIPPER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE CARRIER WEB; A PLURALITY OF COUPLING LINKS FASTENED SPACED FROM EACH OTHER ALONG ONE EDGE OF SAID WEB, SAID WEB BEING FOLDEDF SUBSTANTIALLY MIDWAY BETWEEN THE FREE ENDS THEREOF ALONG A PAIR OF FOLD LINES EXTENDING INCLINED AT SUBSTANTIALLY 45* TO THE OTHER EDGE OF SAID WEB TOWARD EACH OTHER TO FORM WITH SAID COUPLING LINKS A PAIR OF SUBSATANTIALLY PARALLEL LINK CHAINS JOINED AT ONE END OF SAID ZIPPER BY A SUBSTANTIALLY TRIANGULAR PORTION OF SAID WEB; A SLIDE HAVING A WEDGE PORTION LOCATED BETWEEN SAID LINK CHAINS AND A PAIR OF GUIDE FLANGES RESPECTIVELY ENGAGING THE COUPLING LINKS ON SAID CHAINS FOR COUPLING THE LATTER DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID SLIDE TOWARD SAID ONE END OF SAID ZIPPER AND FOR UNCOUPLING THE SAME DURING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID SLIDE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION; AND AN ELASTIC SEALING MEMBER FASTENED TO SAID TRIANGULAR PORTION OF SAID WEB AND ENGAGING A BOTTOM FACE OF SAID WEDGE PORTION WHEN SAID SLIDE IS MOVED TO SAID ONE END OF SAID ZIPPER. 